Red Star need to overturn a 2-0 first-round, first leg
deficit against Czech champions Slovan Liberec in Belgrade to
qualify for the group stage of the competition.

Failure to do so would extend to 14 the number of years the
1991 European Cup winners have not survived in Europe past the
winter break and possibly persuade Bajevic to accept an offer
from Greek side Panathiniakos.

'I will answer that question (about staying on at Red Star)
after the match with Liberec,' Bajevic told a news conference on
Wednesday.

'We have a very poor result from the first leg but I believe
we also have a fighting chance of turning things around and
reaching the UEFA Cup group stage,' he said.

'We will certainly do our best and the team will need to be
mentally strong in order to wipe out a two-goal deficit. We will
have to take risks and keep a clean sheet, which is not easy.'

Bajevic steered bitter Athens rivals Olympiakos and AEK to a
total of seven league titles before taking over at Red Star
during the close season in a bid to steer them into the
Champions League group stage.

However, a 3-1 aggregate defeat to AC Milan in the third
qualifying round triggered media reports of his imminent
departure that intensified after the Liberec defeat two week
ago.

Red Star president Dragan Stojkovic, who recently sold seven
internationals to ease the club's financial burden, hopes to
keep the trophy-laden coach no matter what happens against
Liberec.

'We have a firm contract with Bajevic and as far as I am
concerned he will stay on as Red Star's manager although we are
aware that other clubs want him,' he said.